About this Site

Emilie Davis was an African-American woman living in Philadelphia during the U.S. Civil War. This website is a transcription of Emilie’s three pocket diaries for the years 1863, 1864, and 1865. In them, she recounts black Philadelphians’ celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation, nervous excitement during the battle of Gettysburg, and their collective mourning of President Lincoln. The diary allows readers to experience the war in real time, as events unfolded for Civil War Americans. Read More...

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June 26-28, 1864

June, SUNDAY, 26, 1864.

rather Pleasent to day i did not go to church during the day i spent the morning in reading and writing in the afternoon i went to see rachel in the evening we went to church

MONDAY, 27.

the evening it was very [...] I enjoyed myself very much yesterday i received a letter from nell at last saying she could not come out sue expect to go away this

TUESDAY, 28.

Week consequently i dont expect to see her very Pleasent to day how i whis [...] i could go to meeting this evening i amuse my Self by Practicing and reading if i had no my gatair